Your English Writing Sucks? These six techniques should save you

Writing in English is never easy. Even though I wrote hundreds of journalistic and PR texts, dozens of corporate and personal blogs, and thousands of business emails, I still think my English writing skills suck. However, when I see people using "your" instead of "you're", switching verb tenses without a logical reason or missing out on the right word definitions, my self-esteem rises tremendously. How is it possible in the age of Google Translate, Grammarly, and Urban Dictionary?

I can't answer that. However, I can list the techniques I use to make my texts clearer, shorter, and, mainly, engaging.

1. Use active voice

When telling a story, avoid passive verbs. Using passive voice makes you sound uncertain. It also puts less "responsibility" for the facts you are writing about. This is why I especially hate when somebody uses passive voice in business emails. Active voice influences the reader much more and sounds bolder. Here is an example.

Instead of The revenue figure gained last year will be impossible to reach this year.

I'd useWe won't exceed the last year's revenue.

2. Avoid wordiness

"Too many words!"I heard that often in the beginning of my journalistic career. The chief editor usually got pissed off by my long memoirs. Well, why wouldn't he? Wordiness is a common mistake of an inexperienced writer. Going back to the example above, not only did I make the sentence sound more convincing, but I also shortened it almost in half. This doesn't come easy. As a writer, you always feel burdened while cutting out the whole sentences and dropping meaningless words. But this is what you must do. Your writing won't get better if you fill it with unnecessary words. Instead of quantity, you need to take care of quality. For me, this means choosing words that express my ideas best without leaving the reader misguided.

Instead of The fact is that I don't like Caroline pretty much for her dumb attitude and a slight lack of respect. (20 words)I'd use

I don't like Caroline for dumb attitude and disrespect. (9 words)

"The fact is that" - doesn't add any sense"pretty much" - informal word combination, doesn't add any sense"her" - we talk about Caroline so it is understood"a slight lack of respect" - a lack of respect cannot be slight, you either respect or you don't, also a lack of respect can be said in one word "disrespect"

3. Period is better than comma, definitely better than semicolon

When you have too many ideas to express, the sentences might end up being too long. Digital era also adds up to the trouble. Back when ink and paper were expensive and writing was boring and burdening, people weren't writing unnecessary words. Now it takes several seconds to type a word. So who cares when there is a million, huh? :) The best sentences, however, must have a noun (subject), a verb, and an object. That's it. Nothing else is needed if you want to be clear and concise. Adverbs and adjectives, of course, shouldn't be omitted altogether. Use them when they give additional tone, detail, or meaning to the sentence. I suggest going with the flow and writing long sentences anyway. But when you revise, shorten the sentences by splitting them. Put periods to divide sentences. When I see that there is "but", "however", "while", "which", or "when" coming up in a sentence, I try to put a period to split it. When I see that a sentence can be divided in two (due to its length and slightly separate meanings), I put a period. I also avoid semicolon. It can only add uncertainty in reader's understanding. When you divide long sentences into several short ones, you do a huge favor to readers. It is easier to consume information in portions. Just like eating cake. You eat a slice instead of choking yourself to death with a whole cake, right?.

Instead of Paris appeared to be a beautiful city with lots of magnificent pieces of architecture while its habitants showed themselves as ignorant, impatient, and lacking a certain style which was a total surprise and devastated all my expectations. (1 sentence) I'd use

Paris appeared to be a beautiful city with lots of magnificent pieces of architecture. Its habitants, however, showed themselves as ignorant, impatient, and lacking a certain style. It was a total surprise and devastated all my expectations. (3 sentences)

4. Use one tense throughout the text

I don't like when the writer jumps from one tense to another in the same story. In one sentence, the character was doing something in the past. In the next one, he's doing it now. It doesn't happen in a real life, right? We haven't discovered a time machine yet. It can only confuse the reader. If you talk about something that happened in the past - use the past tense. If you're talking about something that happens in the modern days - use the present tense. There are also perfect and future tenses. I don't want to start on gerund either. You can read about using tenses in any grammar book, so I don't think I need an example here.

5. Write full organization names first, then use abbreviations

When you're writing about an organization, make sure to use its full name the first time you mention it. It is a huge sign of respect towards your reader and his/her time. Of course, if I don't know some abbreviation, I'll go on and google it. But if, say, you're writing a blog and you want to sustain your reader's focus on your blog, don't make him wander through the web, looking for the abbreviation's meaning. It might also save you from funny situations. Let's imagine you're writing about the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Its abbreviation is MILF. And MILF is also a commonly used acronym that means "Mom I'd Like to Fuck". Possible readers' reactions? Go figure.

6. Use comma wisely

People say that karma is a bitch. But the comma is "bitchier". When you list things, for instance, it is logical to put "and" in front of the very last item on your list. "And" indicates that the end of the sentence is close. If you don't want to group up the last two things, please, put a comma before the "and". Some clever people on the Internet have already made a meme for this occasion.

Also, a comma is needed when you address somebody. Correct usage of commas can save lives.

And remember - the more you practice, the better your writing gets. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. Have your friends with better English (or native speakers) check your writing. Collect their feedback and learn from your mistakes. Write, revise, repeat.

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